Crackdown by Bahrain authorities finds 'dangerous' accommodation

Property owners in Bahrain now face legal action after more than 400 houses, labour camps and others buildings in Manama were found to be 'dangerous', following an investigation by Manama Municipality, said the Gulf Daily News.

The inquiry, which was prompted after a fire killed 16 people at the Gudaibiya labour camp in July, found that 261 houses, 106 labour camps and 52 other buildings some of which were also being used to accommodate workers were unsafe.

The Labour Ministry and the General Directorate of Civil Defence have been notified of labour camp owners violating safety rules, and are expected to take action.

The municipality assigned four teams with five inspectors in each to check residential blocks, and there are 14 to go before they complete their investigation.

Earlier this year, Bahrain's Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs launched a campaign to wipe out labour camps that fell short of providing workers with a safe and healthy place to live.

The three-month investigation covered 270 labour camps - 120 of which belonged to construction companies, and led to several being closed down.